“For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” (Romans 7:9)

Paul relating his experience in Romans 7 is such a pivotal passage in understanding the work of God, personally, in our lives. It also explains this warfare the born-again child of God experiences in this life. Paul was inspired to make an account of what happened to him before, during, and after he was born again. The reason for this wasn’t just a platform for Paul to talk about himself! No! The reason was for the benefit of those who would read and understand his experience and then see how it translates to our own experience. Now let me set forth immediately that I don’t recall when I was born again, nor did I have such the experience that Paul did. However, I (we) have had our own experience of Grace whether we recall the exact moment or not. Regardless, it was just as miraculous, effectual, and overwhelming as Paul’s was.

To deal with this, allow me to put it into a “legal chronological timeline” to see how this builds and how we arrive to the point.

The Law of Sin and Death is that law that has been in place since Adam transgressed God’s commandment in the Garden of Eden. This law conveys the fact that we are carnal, sold under sin! It’s the law that passes the sentence of death to all of Adam’s posterity. Paul refers to this law in Romans 8:2 in a wonderful way that we’ll deal with a bit later. He also references this law in Romans 7:21 and 23. He says it’s a “law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” You see, this law of sin he talks about is the law that we fell under because of Adam’s transgression. It’s still the “law in my members”, that “body of death”, that we still bear about. This law causes a warfare in us! It’s a daily battle that we wage because the law of our members is contrary to the law that God placed in us in the new birth!

The Mosaical Law was that which God put in place for Israel by which they would be governed and gave specific instruction regarding sacrifices. However, much like he does in Hebrews, Paul reiterates that this law given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai was not given so man could justify himself for heaven. This is an impossible task for sinful man! “There is none righteous! No! Not one!” This law “shines a light” on sin! Paul used covetousness as an example in verse 7. This law brought a remembrance of sin. I love his wording in Romans 5:20: “Moreover the law entered [came in alongside], that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” This law brought a remembrance of sin; it reminded us that we are sinners! This law brought to light a realization that we are helpless and un-done and that we need a Saviour! So, I find it fitting that the next aspect of this tells us that we have a Saviour!

Our text, if not completely understood by the reader, could cause confusion with Paul’s usage of the term “commandment” with the Ten Commandments that God gave Moses. Let me assure you that the commandment of Romans 7:9 is NOT relating to the Ten Commandments! This is an “effectual” commandment issued to every child of Grace at some point during their lives. This, my friends, is the commandment to LIVE!!! God told Ezekiel that when He passed by us that it was “the time of love,” and then He says to us LIVE!!! This is the love-generated, life-giving call to the child of God to remove him from his state of death in trespasses and sins to a life in Christ Jesus! Paul said, “sin revived and I died!” not because the commandment brought sin and death but because Paul, when he was born again, for the first time in his life, realized himself to be a sinner, dead if not but for the grace of a merciful God!

Finally, we find now the law that has “made [us] free from the law of sin and death.” This is the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, under which we stand without condemnation! It doesn’t tell us we are sinners (though we are). It tells us that we have been made free by the work of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t tell us we need a Saviour. It tells us we HAVE a Saviour and He hath done all things well! This law tells us that the precious blood of Christ has made us clean, whiter than snow.

So, if it seems to be your case, that you find yourself struggling under the weight of sin, know that the commandment has been issued to you, and you are now under the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus!

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Emmanuel’s veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood      
Lose all their guilty stains!